Preparation of enriched ¹⁷⁶Yb target on carbon backing

The study of fusion-fission reactions around the Coulomb barrier energies have been a topic of intense research during the past few decades. To study the heavy ion induced reactions, in particular fusion excitation measurements at near barrier energies, spin distribution of Evaporation Residues (ER) produced in heavy ion reaction measurements, fission fragment angular and mass distribution measurements etc., require very thin targets. Preparation of thin, isotopically enriched target is an important and challenging task in any nuclear reaction experiments. Also the storage of rare earth material targets, specifically the lanthanides targets are challenging as they are chemically very much active. Targets of ¹⁷⁶Yb were required for measuring the ER excitation functions and barrier distribution for our present interest. Self supporting thin targets were required or targets with very thin backing of low Z material were highly preferred for such studies